Weekly Update

I’m in the middle of rewriting the end of my latest modern crime story, but it’s not an easy one and it’s taking rather longer than I’d expected. However, with luck I’ll finish it today or tomorrow before sending it to Canada to my favourite copy editing expert (you know who you are, Cheryl!); meanwhile, Rebellion’s Message has just come back from the copy editor, and I’ve had warning that Blood of Innocence is coming back in a week. At some point The Sinking Admiral, a collaborative book from The Detection Club which I’ve participated in writing, must return, too, since that’s out in June. That means three books in the first six months of the year.

Happy hounds now I can walk (or hobble) them again!

At the same time, I have bitten the bullet on For the Love of Old Bones, No One Can Hear You Scream and Act of Vengeance. Rather than trying to write new books and market and publicise these three, I have worked with Endeavour Press. They will soon be relaunching all three, and taking over marketing responsibilities for me. That will be quite a big strain taken away so I can concentrate on writing again!

I’m also working with my indefatigable web site administrators, Jean and Roger, to redesign my ‘Landing Page’ on the website. Since I’ve now got so many YouTube videos (the latest is here), photos and different series, it makes sense to try to rationalise the way the website works. With that in mind, hopefully the new website will work better for new people who haven’t read my books before. It should also work better on tablets and mobile phones, too. I’m looking forward to being able to announce that launch soon.

My leg is still playing up. I fell on 20th December, in quite an impressive manner. My left foot was on what looked like a patch of grass, which soon showed itself to be disconnected with the rest of the planet. My foot turned 90 degrees, and I fell vertically, spraining both knee and ankle. Yes, it was painful! However, it is being a little slow to recover. Personally, I reckon largely because I am an old git now, and things do take that bit longer to mend. Be that as it may, Tom Bell, a good friend and expert doctor, has persuaded me to book myself into the nearest clinic to get myself checked over. Hey ho. Another day’s work lost!

That’s Alan second from the right. Get better soon!

Still, things could be a lot worse. My three brothers went on a skiing holiday last week. I was enormously jealous (since I haven’t been able to afford such luxuries for over 25 years), but my jealousy has been tempered by the news that my oldest brother, Alan, had a bad fall (while pretty much stationary) and has broken a vertebra in his spine. All seems well, with Italian doctors knowing what to do to brace and protect him, but he is in a lot of pain. I hope he soon recovers.

That’s all for now. I have to dip back into modern life now, finish this book, and then jump back into the reign of Bloody Mary and the copyedit.

Thank you for the update! Sorry that recovery is slow but with my chronic old military problems I can at least empathize. The last few weeks have been unsettling between health (both of us) and natural disasters. Presently we are ‘cooling off’ with a ‘Siberian Express.’ I do hope to hang on for your new titles!

Hi Michael, try the comfrey oil I recommended for your wrists on your ankle and knee, its folklore name is ‘knitbone’ – see this link:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphytum_tuberosum
Perhaps a pair of boots with studs will help you keep your footing :-)